Washington Adventist University Religion Grads Deliver Bottled Water to Residents in Flint, Michigan
Takoma Park, Md. (July 19, 2016) Two recent graduates of Washington Adventist University’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies travelled more than 1,000 miles last weekend to deliver clean drinking water to the residents of Flint, Michigan.
Both Richard Matthews and Gibbs Hilaire recently earned their master’s degrees in religion through the university’s accelerated evening program. They decided to travel to Flint as part of their graduation project of doing missions for the Lord, citing Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
“The water crisis in Flint is not over. In fact, it won’t be over for many years,” said Matthews. “They are just now starting to dig up pipes in the city to replace the contaminated pipes, and it is just not in the news because of other events. Residents are still in need of water, as they have seen delivery of bottled water reduced since the crisis was first announced.”
Teaming up with the Fairhaven Seventh-day Adventist Church in Flint and its Community Services Center, Hilaire and Matthews walked a neighborhood on July 16, meeting residents and leaving two cases of bottled water at each home. They were greeted warmly, and noted that elderly residents were especially appreciative that water was delivered to their front door so they did not have to go to a distribution center to pick it up.
Both Matthews and Hilaire can be seen on a brief video that they made during the trip to remind others that the water issue in Flint has not yet been resolved. Matthews and Hilaire say they are looking forward to returning to Flint with more clean drinking water. As SGPS graduates, the two religion majors say they understand what it means to serve, and are determined to make a difference for God.
The School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS) has been providing evening degree programs for more than 30 years. Classes are offered in a convenient, accelerated format that accommodates the needs of working adults who are seeking both undergraduate and graduate degrees. More information is available on the SGPS website.
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Washington Adventist University is Montgomery County’s only four-year private college. Part of the Seventh-day Adventist system of higher education, Washington Adventist University has been educating college students since 1904 on a 19-acre campus in suburban Takoma Park, close to the nation’s capital. Approximately 1,100 students of all faiths participate in the university’s eight graduate and 42 undergraduate programs. The 2016 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington Adventist University among the best regional colleges in the north.
Media Contacts:
Angie Crews, 301-891-4134, acrews@wau.edu
Donna Bigler, 240-286-1169, dbigler@wau.edu